Variety of species await inshore anglers

GO FISHING is a look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Bill Miller.

Inshore fishing is very good right now. Everything seems to be welcoming spring and looking to feed heavily.

Redfish are solid at Tarpon Key and Pinellas Point. When you find some, put out live chum to hold the school and start them feeding.

Speckled trout are on the grass flats. Drifting with live white bait or live shrimp under a cork is a good way to find the concentrations of trout. Once you catch a few, put the anchor over to hold your position. When they stop biting, pull the anchor and continue the drift.

Soft plastics such as the MirrOlure Lil John on an eighth-ounce jig head or the DOA Deadly Combo will also catch your limits. Good colors include root beer, electric chicken, gold flake and baby bream.

Snook have made a good move out to the mangrove shorelines. Weedon Island, Double Branch, Cockroach Bay and Miguel Bay are producing good snook action. Live white bait is the key for hot snook action. The season is open, but a catch-and-release approach is encouraged.

Tracy Robin, John Michael Robin and friends had a big day inshore fishing with captain Billy Miller. Using live bait, all the anglers limited on big trout, and Tracy caught a 31-incher. Lots of redfish and a few snook were also caught on the Fort De Soto flats.